The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

"million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)

"abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)

This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.

FROM DORMAN FAMILY , we did a lot of fasting and prayer
before choosing your contact It is with trust and sincerity that we approach you for assistance
This letter may come to you as a suprise based on the fact that I have not had any previous contact with you.Briefly, I am morris dorman the only son of late Chief Stephen dorman former director of Sierre Leone Gold and Diamond Corporation who was murdered by assailants believed to be working for his political enemies.

Shortly before this unfortunate incident, my father had informed me about an important business deal he had executed with some of his colleagues in the office. He told me that he had diverted some money totaling fifteen million US dollars (US$15M) which they had realized from the sale of gold and diamonds in the black market. He showed me some lodgement documents with which he had deposited the money encased in a trunck box with a security /safe deposit company here in Abidjan, Cote d Ivoire.He informed me in confidence that seciurity company did not know the exact contents of the box ; rather, he told them that it contained African artworks that he had assembled for his overseas partner who would soon be coming to claim them for exportation.
As a result of this explanation, the box was accepted for safe-keeping by the security company without inspection. When the political situation in Freetown, Sierre Leone worsened, I escaped into Abidjan, Cote d Ivoire and had since contacted the security company, identified myself properly and informed them about the sad fate my father had suffered. I presented the lodgement documents and they confirmed that they have the trunk box in their vault.

SO I informed them that I intend initiating contacts with my fathers overseas partner who owns the consignment so that he can come and take delivery of it. My decision to retrive this box,and transfer the money and start a new life forms the basis of this enquiry from you.
Now my 13-year-old sister and myself are alone in this strange country suffering without any care or help. without any relation, we are now like refugees and orphans.

Our only hope now is in this fund our father deposited in the Security company to this effect, I humbly solicit your assistance in the followings ways,to assist me claim this fund from the Security Company as co-beneficiary, to retrieve this money from the Security Company in your name and trasfer it to your country, to make a good arrangement for a joint business investment on our behalf in your country and you as the caretaker,to secure a college for my little sister and my self in your country to further our education and to make arrangement for our travel with you to your country after you have transferred this fund.

If you can assist us on these points above, I shall give you 10% of the total money while setting aside 5% for all incidental expenses that may arise in the course of actualising the transaction (such expenses as phone calls fax messages air tickets etc.)
Please i need to inform you that this matter is strictly confidential. I want you to treat it as such.please raeply through this